After three months on site, and several weeks watching themselves on TV - and finding out if Australia loves or hates them, the slog of The Block is about to end for five couples.
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For these couples, the work has all been for one day: auction day, now just a matter of weeks away. Each of the five houses will go under the hammer at the end of the month, with agents guiding price expectations of $2.4 million to $2.64 million.
And for all the anguish of styling cushions, early morning painting sessions and choices about architraves - not to mention the constant bickering between couples - auction day is the only day that really counts. Here's a look inside the houses, and an inside word from Domain's Alice Stolz, who has awarded a weekly $5000 prize to the best team:
Photo: Hocking Stuart
46A Regent Street, Elsternwick
Team: Elyse Knowles and Josh Barker
Selling agency: Hocking Stuart Caulfield
Agents: Todd Newton and Sophie LaForest
Photo: Hocking Stuart
???Stolz says: The highlight here is obviously the outdoor area that integrates seamlessly with the interior. The house also has terrific on-trend features like that amazing pod path and an extremely open-plan living area. There are touches of impracticality but the house is in that sweet spot where it's ideal for DINKS (a double income, no kids couple).
Photo: Noel Jones Real Estate
46B Regent Street, Elsternwick
Team: Mark "Sticks" Croker and Clint "Wombat" Price
Selling agency: Noel Jones Doncaster
Agents: Daniel D'Assisi and David Fileccia
Photo: Noel Jones Real Estate
???Stolz says: This is a fantastic blank canvas. With creme de la creme craftsmanship, it has a little bit of a bachelor pad feel, and, let's face it, who wouldn't love a bit of that in their life? It's super fun with all its quirks: the climbing wall in the kids' room, a TV coming from the roof and the James Bond-style drinks cabinet. The boys have put their signature on the house and it's safe, but not too safe.
Photo: Biggin & Scott
46C Regent Street, Elsternwick
Team: Georgia and Ronnie Caceres
Selling agency: Biggin & Scott Elsternwick
Agents: Daniel Ashton, Angelos Stefanis and Bill Stavrakis
???
Photo: Biggin & Scott
Stolz says: Uber stylish and uber sexy, this is a house with grown-up glamour and decadence. It has a wonderful sense of luxury and is completely on trend - but I don't think it will date. It's like living in a beautiful hotel and with that sense of opulence, you could forget your reality pretty easily here. You really need to see the house and you're able to feel these two at every turn; it has a bit of spunk in the way that others don't. It's anchored and they know what they've been doing.
Photo: The Agency
46D Regent Street, Elsternwick
Team: Hannah and Clint Amos
Selling agency: The Agency Victoria
Agents: Sam Babalis and Peter Kakos
???
Photo: The Agency
Stolz says: This is a really lovely, pretty and elegant house for the area. It's light-filled and has spots of panache every now and then, particularly the wallpaper choices and the beautiful sitting room. The bathroom, aka the disaster from hell, has delivered great results and there's that hallway with privacy. They have made mistakes but they've really done well to fix everything.
Photo: Gary Peer & Associates
46E Regent Street, Elsternwick
Team: Sarah and Jason Price
Selling agency: Gary Peer & Associates
Agents: Jeremy Rosens and Daniel Micmacher
Photo: Gary Peer & Associates
Stolz says: This place has the most amazing hallways with beautiful proportions. It's the most-family friendly home The Block has seen. It has a true sanctuary for parents, amazing bedrooms for children with that Jack and Jill bathroom. With hydronic heating and a beautiful fireplace, it's practical and liveable. This is a house for families.
